Barbed Tape Stack and Apparatus for Deploying Barbed Tape Stack

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments can include a barbed tape stack formed from a planar strip of flexible material and comprising a plurality of barbs disposed therealong, said barbs being sufficiently resilient so as to impede, by entanglement with or otherwise, the passage of an object therepast. The tape is folded in concertina-like folds to form a stack. Apparatus for deployment of barbed tape stacks is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a barbed tape and apparatus for deploying a barbed tape.

There are many situations in which there is a need to deny and/or secure access to a region of a building, an aircraft, a train, a town, a field, etc. This may be, for example, to temporarily secure a ‘cleared’ area in a combat zone, or to control the movements of individuals or crowds, for example during a riot. It may also be desirable to suppress and curtail fleeing combatants in a non-lethal manner. To this end, it is known to use barbed wire in order to form a perimeter fence around an area or to form a barrier at a point of entry to a building, etc.

However, conventional barbed wire is slow and difficult to deploy and can be logistically difficult to carry by dismounted troops or other users. Furthermore, it can be too aggressive for a given situation and can cause significant injury. This may be highly undesirable, for example, when the barbed wire may be encountered by a civilian population.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a barbed tape and apparatus for deploying the same which substantially overcomes or mitigates at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

Related ideas are discussed in our copending applications, which bear our reference numbers P7877, P7880 and P7879, and which are incorporated herein by reference to the fullest extent allowable.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a stack formed of concertina folds of barbed tape. In preferred embodiments, the tape is micro barbed tape. The term ‘micro barbed tape’ is used herein to refer to barbs which are smaller, and therefore less injurious, that current barbed wires or tapes.

In particular, a micro barbed tape according to the invention may be produced from a stock tape of around 5-20 mm in width. Further, micro barbed tape according to the invention is preferably relatively thin, for example between 100-1000 microns, and more preferably 100-600 microns. The length of each barb is preferably between 2 mm to 30 mm

In one embodiment, the tape stack is formed from a planar strip of flexible material, which is preferably relatively thin and which is folded in concertina-like folds and comprising a plurality of barbs disposed therealong, said barbs being sufficiently resilient so as to impede, by entanglement with or otherwise, the passage of an object therepast.

Thus, the micro-barbed tape provides a low-risk and novel approach to the concept of barbed wire, which in this invention is scaled and packaged to form a non-lethal counter personnel capability for entry point control.

Barbed tape according to the first aspect of the invention may be designed to be non-lethal and inflict only light injuries but presents an entanglement feature that inhibits free passage of a person through a doorway or along a passage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for deploying a barbed tape comprising;

-   -   a stack of barbed tape formed of a length of barbed tape folded         with concertina-like folds;     -   first and second members, each of said members being attached to         respective ends of the length of barbed tape; and     -   an enclosure member,

wherein the apparatus is adapted to be configurable in a stowed state in which the stack of barbed tape is enclosed by the enclosure member, the first member and the second member and relative movement between the first and second members is prevented, and a deployed state in which relative movement between the first and second members is permitted.

Thus, the barbed tape is easy to deploy without the need for it to be handled directly by a person deploying the tape. The apparatus may be arranged to be hand held, and may be frangible (e.g. comprised, at least in part, of cardboard or similar materials).

Preferred and/or optional features of the aspects of the present invention are recited in the claims appended hereto.

Embodiments of the invention may be employed to provide micro barbed tape across points of access to snag the clothing of anyone (or the coats of animals) passing it. Deployment methods (which could be used with other tape, including un-barbed tape or traditional barbed tape) are also described.

Containers/enclosures for the barbed tapes described herein are preferably arranged to safely contain the tape until the point of deployment. The container(s) shall preferably be easily transported and can be safely carried by tactical dismounted troops (pocket sized up to back pack size), disposable and readily deployable.

Apparatus described herein is preferably as light and as small as practical and the container profiled such that it can be easily carried by a combat soldier without affecting the soldier's mobility.

Apparatus described herein is preferably arranged such that it does not adversely react too, or interact with, the kit currently being carried or used by a soldier.

Apparatus described herein is preferably designed and be manufactured from materials to have a long shelf life and not require servicing. Preferably, production systems should be sealed to prevent ingress of moisture or dirt.

In some embodiments, the apparatus shall preferably not contain any ordnance, pyrotechnics, chemical propellants or batteries. However, in other embodiments, powered deployment may be desirable.

It may be desirable for apparatus to be quiet or near silent in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIGS. 1A and 1B show top plan views of a strip of barbed tape;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a section of the barbed tape shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for deploying a barbed tape;

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 in a partially deployed state;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 with a portion of the casing of the apparatus removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the barbed tape and barb guards of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 to 5;

FIG. 7 shows a series of lengths of deployed barbed tape;

FIGS. 8A and 8B shown concertina folded tape according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B show a second embodiment of an apparatus for deploying a barbed tape; and

FIG. 10 shows the apparatus of FIG. 9 once tape has been deployed therefrom.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a barbed tape 1 is formed from a substantially planar strip of flexible material. In the presently described embodiment, the barbed tape 1 is punched from a strip of stainless steel having a nominal width of 10 mm and a nominal thickness of 250-500 microns. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the barbed tape 1 may be formed from, for example, mild steel or other metals including non-ferrous metals, polymers or plastics materials.

The strip of barbed tape 1 is formed with a continuous central portion 2, which has first and second parallel edges 3, 4. A plurality of barbs 5 are disposed at regularly spaced locations along each of the first and second edges 3, 4. Each of the barbs 5 is formed as a ‘double barb’ having a T-shape and comprising a connecting portion 6 which projects laterally from the respective edge 3, 4 of the central portion 2 of the strip. A pair of arms 7, 8 are disposed at the distal end of the connecting portion 6, furthest from the central portion 2 of the strip. The arms 7, 8 extend in respective opposite directions from the distal end of the connecting portion 6 parallel to the lengthwise direction of the adjacent central portion 2 of the strip. The arms 7, 8 terminate with a respective pair of spikes 9, 10. Each of the spikes 9, 10 is substantially triangular in shape having a pointed tip which is defined by an acute angle between the two major sides thereof. The connecting portion 6 of each barb 5 acts to space the pairs of spikes 9, 10 from the central portion 2 of the strip. Furthermore, each spike 9, 10 is shaped such that it tapers away from the central portion 2 of the strip.

Exemplary dimensions of the above-described features of the barbed tape 1 are shown in millimetres in FIG. 1B.

The use of a relatively thin material is advantageous as it means that the resulting barbed tape 1 is lightweight and can be easily stowed. Furthermore, the flexibility of the barbed tape 1 ensures that it can deform around an object which it comes into contact with so as to ensnare the object. The barbed tape 1 is also conveniently designed (such as shown in FIG. 2) so as to limit the injurious effects of the tape as the spikes 9, 10 are too short to penetrate deeply into skin. Preferably, the barbed tape 1 is no more injurious than natural brambles.

Trials conducted by the Applicant have found that barbed tape 1 according to some embodiment, which have a thickness of, say 250 or 500 microns, has a tensile strength and profile which means that it cannot readily be pulled apart by hand. The distribution of the barbs 5 along each edge 3, 4 of the barbed tape 1 is such that they are closer together than the span of a typical human hand. Accordingly, a person cannot hold onto the tape 1 at any point in an attempt to tear it apart without being impinged on at least one set of spikes 9, 10.

The ‘double barbed’ design of the presently described embodiment, while not essential, advantageously ensures that that clothing, etc. caught thereon is thoroughly ensnared. The location and spacing of the barbs 5 is set so as to take advantage of the reaction of a body to being impinged by a spike 9, 10 (either directly or through clothing), which is to withdraw from the point of pain. The rapid withdraw reaction has the effect of impaling the offending part of the body onto the adjacent spike. Thus, the “pull away” response from the first contact with the barbed tape 1 is likely to cause greater contact with an adjacent spike 9, 10. The only way to stop this sequence is to halt all violent action and remain still. Once stopped one can then slowly withdraw each spike 9, 10. This creates the hindrance to free movement.

As mentioned above, the barbed tape 1 may conveniently be formed by being punched out of a strip of material, such as stainless steel. The Applicant has discovered that an advantageous consequence of the punching process is that the tips of the spikes 9, 10 are sharpened as the material bends, whereas the rest of the barb 5, i.e. the arms 7, 8 and connecting portion 6 has a substantially square cut profile and is not therefore sharp. This is useful because it means that, whilst the barbs 5 remain effective at, for example, snagging clothing, they do not have sharpened, bladed edges (as is the case with conventional ‘razor wire’) and so the chance of causing severe injury to a person encountering the barbed tape 1 is reduced. Furthermore, with a barbed tape 1 of the above described configuration it is possible to adjust the severity of the effect provided by the tape (in accordance with the intended use) by selecting the appropriate geometry and scale of the barbs 5 when the tape 1 is formed. For example, the more acute the angle at the tip of each spike 9, 10, the greater the ability of the spike to penetrate the clothing of a person coming into contact with the tape 1.

The barbs 5 of a plurality of strips of the above-described barbed tape 1 may ‘tessellate’ to save on material. The profile of the barbed tape 1 has been designed for mass production such that, while it is possible to punch out a single strip, it is also possible to punch out numerous strips side by side on a single pass through a punch machine. This is achieved by setting the gap between opposed spikes 9, 10 of adjacent barbs 5 on each edge 3, 4 of a strip to be as long or longer than the length of the barb assembly 5 itself (measured between the tips of each spike 9, 10 of the barb assembly 5). This allows the barb 5 of one strip of tape to be punched into the space between barbs 5 on an adjacent strip of tape thus saving material and speeding production with minimal waste product.

When the barbed tape 1 is made of natural stainless steel it has a high reflection index. Accordingly, the barbed tape 1 may be treated such that it exhibits a lower reflectivity, making it harder to see. For example, the barbed tape may be painted matt black. Moreover, the barbed tape 1 may optionally contain markers which can readily be picked up by friendly forces. For example, the barbed tape 1 may be treated with infra-red (IR) and/or ultra violet (UV) reactive paints which are visible to troops using night vision goggles or special eyewear or using dedicated (IR/UV) illumination torches. In one example, the tape may incorporate Black Heat (Oxidizing) IR elements into the tape pack that activate on tape deployment to provide a ‘warm’ tape that can be easily distinguished using specialised cameras. The tape may also be brightly coloured so as to provide a clear visual deterrent.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a small pocket sized container is made in two or more parts, at least one of which is to be secured to door hard points/surrounds by spikes, hooks, adhesive pads etc. One part of the container is attached and then manually separated from the other to reveal a stack of barbed tape. Other parts of the container may be attached to the other side of a door, or may be allowed to fall to the floor, or the like.

Such an apparatus for deploying a stack of the above-described barbed tape will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus comprises a container 20 having the shape of a cuboid. The container 20 generally comprises a casing 21 which forms the first and second major faces 23, 24 of the container 20 and first and second connecting side faces 25, 26 of the container 20. The end faces of the container 20 are defined by respective first and second attachment parts 29, 30. Each of the attachment parts 29, 30 comprises a releasable tab 32 which covers an adhesive pad (to be described in more detail later). Each tab 32 comprises a strip which extends across the surface of the respective attachment part 29, 30 and part way along each of the respective adjacent side faces 25, 26 of the container 20. The ends of each tab 32 may be provided with a low tack adhesive such that they adhere to the respective side walls 25, 26 of the container 20 when the container 20 is in a stowed state.

First and second ring pulls 34, 35 are provided at opposite ends of the first major face 23 of the container 20, adjacent to the first and second attachment parts 29, 30, respectively. Each ring pull 34, 35 is coupled to a locking pin 37 which extends through the first major face 23 of the casing and through a hole or loop (not shown) formed in the respective adjacent attachment part 29, 30 so as to hold the adjacent attachment part 29, 30 in place within the casing 21.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the container 20 holds a length of barbed tape which is folded in a concertina arrangement when in the stowed state to form a barbed tape stack 40. The tape may be drawn out by one or both of the attachment parts 29, 30. Alternatively, the tape stack 40 may act like a spring with a tendency to straighten when the one of the attachment parts 29, 30 is released by removal of the associated locking pin 37 and ring pull 35.

Each end of the barbed tape stack 40 is attached to a respective one of the attachment parts 29, 30. Each attachment part 29, 30 comprises a plate like member 42 which has on one face an adhesive pad 43 which is covered by the tab 32. The container 20 may contain additional attachment means (not shown), such as a clip, for attaching the container 20 to the belt of a user when in the stowed state to allowed the container 20 to be easily transported. Additionally, as shown most clearly in FIG. 6, lengths of a barb guard or guard tape 45 are disposed between each fold of the concertinaed barb tape 40. The barb guard 45 comprise a generally U-shaped channel which surrounds the barb tape 40 so as to prevent the barbs 5 of adjacent sections of the folded barb tape 40 from becoming entangled with one another, which could preventing the barb tape 40 from deploying properly when the locking pins 37 are removed.

A method of deploying barbed tape using the apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 is as follows;

-   -   1. Remove the container 20 from a stowage clip on the user's         belt/webbing.     -   2. Tear away the tabs 32 that cover the adhesive pads 43 on each         of the attachment parts 29, 30.     -   3. Hold the centre portion of the casing 21.     -   4. With the locking pins 37 still in place, adhere the pad 43 of         the first attachment part 29 to either the vertical door frame         or the head timber above the door.     -   5. Withdraw the locking pin 37 nearest the pad 43 of the first         attachment part 29 by pulling the associated ring pull 34.     -   6. Keep the casing 21 closed using a hand and move the casing 21         away from the first attachment part 29; the barbed tape 40 will         deploy from the container 20, discharging the loose barb guards         45 is it deploys.     -   7. Adhere the adhesive pad 43 of the second attachment part 30         to the other side of the door frame or just drop the container         20 onto the floor if the head timber is used.     -   8. The casing 21 is designed so as to break into two or more         parts.     -   9. The barbed tape 40 is now deployed.

For vertical frame attachment, a user may instead withdraw the other locking pin 37 by pulling the other ring pull 35 and drop the casing 21.

As shown in FIG. 7, when attached to the head timber of a door frame 12, lengths of barbed tape 40 deployed from a number of containers 20 can be used to rapidly create a counter personnel curtain that either prevents or inhibits a person passing quickly through the doorway 12 or a similar kind of natural choke point such as doors, corridors, windows in buildings, trains, aircraft etc.

Although the above described embodiment comprises attachment parts 29, 30 which comprise adhesive pads 43, it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that a range of attachment means may be employed, such as a fish hook type attachment or one or more spikes, in order to secure the respective attachment parts to a doorway or the like.

A further embodiment which functions in a similar manner to the device shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 could induce an electric shock in a person who encounter the tape, in a similar manner to an electric fence or a ‘laser’ style stun gun. A similar circuit to that used in a Taser, which produces a stunning electrical shock could be incorporated into a container, and, in a preferred example, triggered by the combatant pulling on or interacting with the deployed tape. In such an example, the tape assumes a “ready” state, once it has been released from the container, but is not energised and would hang to present a possible ensnaring trap. However once a person or animal has been ensnared and make positive active action to free themselves by pulling on the tape. The action of pulling may activate the circuit further enticing the combatant to remain passive and still.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show an embodiment of ‘self-guarding’ barbed tape 801. In this embodiment, a central portion 802 with substantially parallel side edges 803, 804 has a pronounced undulating profile (i.e. the parallel side edges 803, 804 follow an undulating path).

The central portion 802 is of substantially constant width but follows an undulating path. The barbs 805 are arranged in the ‘dips’, i.e. along portions of the side edges 803,804 which lie close to a central axis 810 of the tape 810, rather than those portions of the side edges 803,804 which lie further away from the central axis 810. The undulations are such that the maximum distance from the longitudinal axis 810 to the outer profile of the barbs 805 is approximately the same as the maximum distance of a side edge 803, 804, i.e. the barbs 805 are arranged in the ‘troughs’ of the waves of the undulating profile, and are substantially contained between the ‘crests’ of the wave.

Expressed another way, a length of the tape would be fully enclosed by a rectangle, where a side edge 803, 804 extends approximately to the edge of the rectangle at the same point along its length as a barb 805 extends approximately to the opposite edge of the rectangle. This means that, by aligning layers 811 a-e of the tape 180° ‘out of phase’ (i.e. aligning a peak of one undulation with a barb arranged in the trough of another undulation), the tape 801 can itself provide a barrier between barbs on alternate layers 811 a-e. Thus layers 811 built up using offset undulations, as shown with in FIGS. 8A and 8B will not entangle prior to deployment.

Of course, the undulations may vary in shape from those shown and may be more angular, or smoother than those illustrated while still achieving the same effect. It will be noted that the side walls follow an undulating path—specifically, when the tape 801 is laid flat, the undulations lie in the plane of the tape 801. In another example, alternate layers may have barbs on different side edges, such that barbs lie against unbarbed side edges once the stack is formed. This will give a similar ‘self-guarding’ effect within the stack. There may of course be more or fewer undulations in each layer than are shown in the current embodiment.

The tape 801 incorporates fold lines arranged such that the tape 801 can been folded back on itself in a concertina style arrangement. Such fold lines can be included in metal materials with relative ease, for example the tape 801 can be folded back on itself in a jig or using similar machinery. In one example, the tape 801 is a 250 micron tape which is folded back over a 500 micron ‘former’ or mandrel.

As noted above, the arrangement is such that each undulation acts as a guard portion between layers of barbs 805. FIG. 8B shows a stack 812 of such folded tape 801, which could be packaged. As will be noted, the tape 801 includes unbarbed end portions 814 a, b, which could be handled directly by a user, and could carry an attachment means such as a sticky pad, or spike. The ends could also be attached to a deployment means, for example a portion of a frangible packaging means (as described above and with reference to FIG. 9 below). The tape 801 ends also comprise holes 816, which could serve to receive attachment means and/or be used to secure the end of the tape to a deployment means.

In another embodiment of a deployment means 900 which is arranged to deploy a ‘self-guarding Z-fold’ stack 812 of barbed tape 801 (although in other embodiments could be replaced with other designs, including other ‘self-guarding’ designs as described above, or with other tape designs and guard portions, as described above), is now described in conjunction with FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10. In this embodiment, a stack of barbed tape is packed into a frangible (e.g. cardboard, paperboard or the like) box 902, as shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10. Preferably, the box 902 is coated with a material (not shown) to make it more resilient to weather and handling. A suitable coating may be polyethylene sheeting, such as is familiar from cardboard food and drinks packaging, but other alternative may occur to the skilled person, such as other plastics, waxes or the like. Such materials are relatively light weight but are still relatively robust. Further, they allow for a variety of adhesive or piercing attachment means to be used.

In this embodiment, the box 902 has dimensions similar to a 9 mm ammunition ‘clip’ or ‘magazine’ to enable it to be readily incorporated into the kit of military personnel. Tests have shown that 250 micron thick tape formed over a 500 micron mandrel gives a tight ‘Z’ or concertina fold. Four metres of folded tape 801 may be packed into an area 160 mm in length, 10 mm wide and about 38 mm deep (the size of 9 mm clip).

The box 902 comprises a flap 904, generally held against the box 902 by use of a closure means 906 (in this example, a portion of ‘hook and loop’ tape 906 a, which can be seen in FIG. 10, arranged on the box 902 and a second portion complimentary 906 b is arranged on the interior surface of the flap 904. Alternative closure means will be familiar to the skilled person). The flap 904 can however be opened and further attachment means 908 are provided to allow the flap 904 (and therefore the box 902) to be attached to a substrate 910 as shown in FIG. 10. In this example, the attachment means 908 comprises two thumbtacks, but alternative or additional examples are provided by adhesive strip(s), screw(s), nail(s) or the like.

The box 902 further comprises a frangible portion, which in this example comprises a zone of weakness to encourage a particular location to give way under pressure. In particular, in this example, the box 902 comprises a rip tag 912 along one side, specifically the face which will be lowermost then the box 902 is hung from the substrate 910, and, which is marked to clearly demonstrate to the user where to grasp and tear (in the example shown, a pictographic representation of a ‘zip’ fastener is used to provide this indication—no actual zip is provided in this embodiment). The rip-tag 912 is such that it is designed to tear away along two perforated lines 914 a, 914 b, such that substantially all of the face of the box 902 is removed when the tag 912 is torn. A lanyard 916 ending in a ring 918 is fixed to the end of the stowed tape, and arranges such that pulling on the lanyard 916 in the direction indicated by the packaging results in tearing along the perforated lines 914. In one example, the lanyard 916 may simply be released after the bottom of the box 902 is removed, and the tape 801 falls out under gravity as shown in FIG. 10 (in which the tape 801 is shown as unbarbed for clarity). The second end of the stack 812 is attached to the interior of the box 902. However, once relative movement is allowed between the lanyard 916 and the box 902, then the tape 801 may be deployed.

The lanyard 916 allows the user to ensure that his or her hand is a safe distance from the box 902 before the tape 801 falls therefrom. Such a lanyard 916, or a similar device, could also be used to allow activation across a doorway, window or the like, such that opening the doorway/window causes actuation. This may be achieved by securing the box 902 to one side of a relatively moveable member (e.g. the door) and the end of the lanyard 916 or similar device to another part of the opening (e.g. the door frame), such that opening the door separates the lanyard and the box, ripping open the box. The tape 801 may then deploy under gravity or the further action of the e.g. door as it opens causes the tape 801 to be drawn from the box 902.

One of the thumbtacks 908 may be used to secure the ring 918 to a substrate, or further alternative attachment means may be provided. Of course, it may be possible to place the ring 918 or a loop of the lanyard 916 around a door handle, window feature or the like, or tie the lanyard 916 thereto, while fixing the box 902 to a stationary part of the structure.

Features of one embodiment described herein could be used in conjunction with other embodiments. For example, the ‘self-guarding’ tape stack 812 could act as a spring rather than fall under gravity, and the stack described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 could be arranged to have unbarbed end portions, or to be ‘self-guarding’, in which case the guard layers could be omitted. Further, alternative undulations to those described could produce the ‘self-guarding effect: for example, the undulations may have a profile similar to a ‘square wave’ or otherwise be angular rather than smooth. The central portion need not be of constant width and may vary, potentially allowing for multiple strips to tessellate as described above. The lanyard 916 need not be present and/or may be replaced with other ‘pull’ means. The tape need not be micro barbed tape (although it will be appreciated that the long length of tape which can be held inside the enclosure is due to the thinness of the tape, and therefore this has advantages). The design of the box 902 could of course be different to that shown, both in terms of surface decoration and size/shape/deployment methods etc. As already mentioned about, the frangible material may be something other than paper and cards. For example, some plastics and even metals can be torn, in particular if zones of weakness e.g. perforated lines, such as are described above, are formed therein.

The above-described deployment systems could be used in conjunction with a non-barbed net to form a temporary door block.

The deployed tape could be arranged to alert people to its presence, for example including an audible alarm, or a more covert device such as a micro radio transmitter, which could server to alert friendly forces by causing a tone to appear in their tactical headsets if they get close to the deployed tape.

Although the undulations described above in relation to self-guarding tape are in the plane of the tape when it is laid flat, there could also be undulations out of the plane of any of the tape designs—this could help maintain alignment between layers of tape in a concertina stack.

More than one stack of tape could be included in a container/deployment apparatus. One or more parts of a container/deployment apparatus may act as a weight to assist in deploy the tape. A container/deployment apparatus, or elements thereof, may be incorporated into other structures or fittings, which could be arranged in a possible deployment location for a long period of time, perhaps permanently. Although various means of releasing the tape have been disclosed herein, in other examples, deployment could be provided by a hinged lid or cover, which may be manually or automatically opened.

Features described in relation to one embodiment could be used in conjunction with another embodiment. 

1. A barbed tape stack formed from a planar strip of flexible material and comprising a plurality of barbs disposed therealong, said barbs being sufficiently resilient so as to impede, by entanglement with or otherwise, the passage of an object therepast, the tape incorporating concertina-like folds such that it is arranged in a plurality of layers.
 2. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1 which comprises a micro barbed tape, wherein said barbs are sized so as to entangle a person coming into contact therewith without causing serious injury to said person.
 3. A barbed tape according to claim 1, the tape comprising; a central portion having first and second parallel side edges; a plurality of barbs disposed at spaced locations along at least one of said side edges, each of said barbs comprising at least one spike which projects in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the tape.
 4. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1, wherein each barb comprises a pair of spikes, said pair of spikes extending in respective opposite directions from one another.
 5. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1, wherein said at least one spike or said pair of spikes project from a connecting portion which extends laterally from said at least one side edge.
 6. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of barbs are disposed at regularly spaced locations along both of said first and second edges.
 7. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between adjacent barbs on said at least one or each side edge is approximately equal to the length of each barb in the lengthwise direction of the tape.
 8. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1, wherein the material is a metal or a plastics material.
 9. A barbed tape stack according to claim 8, wherein the material is stainless steel having a thickness of approximately 250-500 microns.
 10. A barbed tape stack according claim 1, wherein the tape comprises a coating which includes at least one of ultra-violet reflective matter and infra-red reflective matter.
 11. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1, in which a barb guard disposed between adjacent layers of the barbed tape to prevent contact therebetween
 12. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1 in which the tape is arranged such that adjacent layers of tape have barbed and unbarbed portions, and the barbed portion in one layer is arranged to overlie an unbarbed portion in adjacent layers.
 13. A barbed tape stack according to claim 1, wherein the tape comprises a central portion with substantially parallel side edges having an undulating profile, the central portion being of substantially constant width, and the profile being such that barbs are arranged in the dips of the undulation such that they do not protrude beyond the adjacent peaks of the undulations.
 14. A barbed tape stack according to claim 13 in which the folds are such that the undulations on adjacent layers are 180° out of phase with one another.
 15. An apparatus for deploying a barbed tape comprising; a stack of barbed tape formed of a length of barbed tape folded with concertina-like folds; first and second members, each of said members being attached to respective ends of the length of barbed tape; and an enclosure member, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be configurable in a stowed state in which the stack of barbed tape is enclosed by the enclosure member, the first member and the second member and relative movement between the first and second members is prevented, and a deployed state in which relative movement between the first and second members is permitted.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein one of said first and said second members is formed integrally with said enclosure member.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein one or both of said first and second members comprises attachment means for securing said member or said members to a surface. 18-19. (canceled)
 20. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which the enclosure member is formed of a frangible material. 21-22. (canceled)
 23. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which the enclosure member is coated with a water resistant layer
 24. An apparatus according to claim 15 in which at least one of the first and second members comprises a lanyard
 25. (canceled) 